The US quickly steamrolled the remains of the Spanish empire, and in the process took Cuba (gained independence shortly afterwards), the Philippines (gained full autonomy after WW2), some Pacific islands, and the subject of this question, Puerto Rico. The United States flag has flown over Puerto Rico since 1898. U.S. citizens can travel freely between Puerto Rico and the rest of the … Puerto Rico contributes more soldiers to the U.S. armed services per capita than any state, and Puerto Ricans pay federal payroll and other taxes.

Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens and can vote in U.S. presidential primaries. Puerto Rico was the last Province of Spain in the New World. Similarly, since the president of the United States isn't elected through a popular vote, but by electors from the states and the District of Columbia (D.C.), Puerto Rico residents are not able to vote for president in November. As an aside, my four grandparents were Spaniards (so, probably, I can still claim Spaniard citizenship). U.S. citizens can travel freely between Puerto Rico and the rest of the … The residents of Puerto Rico were Spaniards until 1898. To this day, they are … They can even become president of the United States. United States, in the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit) ruled that former Illinois residents living in Puerto Rico, Guam, or the U.S. Virgin Islands cannot file absentee ballots because those regions are part of the United States. Puerto Rico contributes more soldiers to the U.S. armed services per capita than any state, and Puerto Ricans pay federal payroll and other taxes. Yes, it is part of the United States of America. Those born in Puerto Rico have less political input and representation than residents of U.S. states. It does not exist on its own. The destruction wrought by Hurricane Maria on the 3.4 million residents of Puerto Rico resurfaced a disturbing fact – many Americans don't know the first thing about the Caribbean island.

They can even become president of the United States.

Puerto Rico, an island in the Caribbean Sea, has been a territory of the United States since 1898, after the U.S. defeated Spain in the Spanish-American war. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens and can vote in U.S. presidential primaries. It is not a state, but the US does safeguard Puerto Rico as a result of certain happenings at the turn of the 20th century. The head of State for Puerto Rico is President Trump..1. That said, the United States went to war with Spain, whom was still in control of Puerto Rico at the time, as well as Cuba and the Philippines. The United States flag has flown over Puerto Rico since 1898. Today, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, whose parents were born in Puerto Rico, sits on the highest court of law in the United States—the Supreme Court. Hurricane Maria’s ravaging of Puerto Rico in 2017, and lingering controversy over Washington’s response, tested the quirky ties between the U.S. and its far-flung territories. Donald Trump Doesn’t Think Puerto Rico Is Part of the United States by Araceli Cruz April 2, 2019 April 11, 2019 President Donald Trump is attacking Puerto Rico once again, and this time he is saying that Puerto Rico is “complaining” about the lack of relief funds and also erroneously tweeting that the island is not part of the U.S. Now of course it is not a part of the United States, but there are certain privileges that are included if the individual is a resident of Puerto Rico.